The roar of Chinese fighter jets above Egypt’s iconic pyramids marked the conclusion of the first-ever joint air force exercises between China and Egypt, signaling what observers see as a strategic shift in Middle East alliances and a growing challenge to long-standing U.S. influence in the region.
China’s military on Monday released dramatic footage of its fighter jets, helicopters, and transport aircraft flying over the Sahara Desert as part of the “Eagles of Civilisation 2025” drills, hailing the exercises as a symbol of deepening military ties between the two nations.
“As Egypt looks beyond its traditional U.S. partnership, a new era of cooperation is taking flight over Cairo’s skies,” a video by China’s state broadcaster CCTV declared, underscoring the significance of the 18-day exercises.
Held with one of America’s closest security partners, the drills come at a time when Washington’s engagement in the region has waned, creating space for Beijing to assert its influence across North Africa. Under the Trump administration, U.S. foreign aid cuts were deeply felt, particularly in countries like Egypt that have relied on American military assistance for decades.
The Global Times, a publication affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, described the exercises as laying “a foundation for future cooperation” between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries. Analysts say the joint drills also serve Egypt’s ambitions to upgrade its combat capabilities and assert its status as a leading regional power amid heightened instability across the region.
“It’s great public diplomacy for China, particularly in the Middle East,” said Eric Olander, co-founder of the China-Global South Project. “It opens the door for Beijing to promote its military hardware—drones, surface-to-air missiles, transport aircraft, and more.”
However, Olander cautioned that transitioning from U.S. to Chinese military systems would be a costly and complex process for Egypt. Such a move could risk a reduction or suspension of U.S. military aid, which has been a core element of Egypt’s defense posture since the late 1970s.
Still, as China pledges billions of dollars in new defense-related investments, including satellite manufacturing facilities capable of producing military-grade surveillance technology in Egypt, the North African country appears to be diversifying its security partnerships.
The timing of the drills is also significant, as Egypt faces regional crises on multiple fronts: the Gaza conflict to its northeast, ethnic violence in Sudan to the south, and political instability in Libya to the west.
In a statement marking the conclusion of the exercises, China’s air force said the joint drills represented “a new starting point and a significant milestone in military cooperation between the two countries.”
